In this module we explore racialized suffering from a “systems perspective.” This is sometimes called institutional and structural/systemic racism. In some ways, this is the karma vipaka of the history we have been contemplating these last two modules.

We consider two angles to this theme: learning about the “white frame” (part 1) as well about the ways that racism plays out at levels of experience that are beyond the personal and interpersonal, yet deeply inform our lives (part 2).

Some Dharmic concepts/frameworks that might be helpful to keep in mind as you peruse these materials:

• karma vipaka and samskaras

• the Wheel of Life and the 3 poisons

• conditionality - and the “gap”

1) Learning to spot the “white frame”

“When dharma does not fill your whole body and mind, you may assume that it is already sufficient. When dharma fills your body and mind, you understand that something is missing.” - Dogen, in Shōbōgenzō Genjōkoan

The very thoughts we have and the very questions that come to mind arise within a field of what is thinkable, and what is askable. That field is deeply conditioned — by habituated ways of being and history. Consider all the times the Buddha refused or was reluctant to answer a question — not because the question did not have an answer, but because it was not a helpful question, or it was not a question leading to liberation.

In this module we ask: what are we missing? not seeing? not feeling? Some people describe this as being fish trying to look at the water we swim in. This is hard. But also fascinating and life-giving. What happens when we become aware of the frame — and its limitations? When we spot the “white frame” what new questions become askable, what new thoughts become thinkable, what new feelings become feelable?

The podcast we invite you listen to gets at this. It’s a story that is multilayered and, we suggest, deeply Dharmic. At first this story may seem very unrelated to your day to day. It’s about an all-Black debate team in the US, a kind of intellectual sport that is institutionally overwhelmingly white. As you listen, you might ask: how is this relevant to your sangha and/or to the Buddhist organizations, communities and contexts you are part of?

RadioLab podcast episode - Debatable (2016) – 58 minutes. You can find a transcript here.

2) Systemic and Institutional Racism

Visual Aides for Reflection on dimensions of racism: internalized, interpersonal, institutional, structural, communal, systemic, etc.

Unequal Opportunity Race (4 min) - illustrated video that explains racial disparities, equity vs. equality.

Race in America 2020 - by Phil Vischer (18 min) This is US focused video essay, but it is a good and short expose of how racism unfolds beyond the interpersonal— in housing, education, criminal justice, heath, wealth, etc. (Note there are materials specific to race in the UK, organized by theme below, eg. healthcare.)

A quote from Sangharakshita’s 1976 lecture “A Blueprint for a New World” (1 page)

Optional - only if you have time

“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2014). This is a famous article about systemic racism (particularly in relation to housing and wealth) that sparked policy efforts for reparations. It’s long, but there is a recording here. Though it is specific in some ways, it is highly illustrative of how systemic racism operates across time and engages many institutions and dimensions of social experience.

Piers Morgan and Akala have a conversation about race and crime (2019) 10min. This is a conversation that can be listened to on two levels. On the one hand it’s about race and crime, and on the other it’s an example of one person holding a certain frame on the issues, and the other trying to shift to that fame. Notice the challenge in that. Still, the conversation is civil and both acknowledge the concerns of the other to some degree.

Phil Vischer made a good follow-up essay Part 2 to his video above, responding to questions that arose from (mostly) white people.